Frederick Grinnell (biologist)


Frederick Grinnell is an American cell biologist, also known for his work in bioethics. Currently, he is the Robert McLemore Professor of Medical Science in the department of cell biology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He took his undergraduate degree in chemistry at Clark University and Ph.D. in biochemistry at Tufts University. He joined the faculty at UT Southwestern in 1972 and founded the Ethics in Science and Medicine Program and Ethics Grand Rounds in 1998.
Grinnell's scientific work contributed to the discovery of the biological adhesion protein fibronectin and helped to establish the importance of fibronectin in wound repair. Subsequently, his laboratory helped popularize the use of wound exudate to analyze the human wound environment and made the discovery that chronic wounds contain degraded fibronectin and high levels of proteolytic enzymes. Subsequently, his research focused on the biomechanics of fibroblasts interacting with three dimensional collagen matrices.
In bioethics, Grinnell engages in cross-disciplinary work at the boundary between science and philosophy. His goal is to inform public policy and to advance science education and public understanding of science. He has published two books: The Scientific Attitude and Everyday Practice of Science: Where Intuition and Passion Meet Objectivity and Logic.

Awards